A day rarely passes when we don’t hear the following questions:
What do you need at the food bank?
What can I do to help?

Image: Rosemary Ratcliff / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many people want to help but often they don’t know how to start or they are don’t think they have anything worth giving.  Even more likely, they are struggling themselves to get by and they don’t think they have anything they to spare that would help.

However, there is one thing that anyone can give that won’t cost a cent.  Volunteers Without Limits is not affiliated with any church or denomination but it is a faith-based ministry.  Your prayers on behalf of the work we do here are always the first and foremost gift you can give.

Another way to help when money is short is by donating STUFF.  Our segundo sales contribute about a third of the cost of the food we distribute.  The items that sell best are used but working power tools, appliances (small and large), furniture, linens, and of course clothing.  You can help by cleaning out your closet and sending us those extra tools or appliances that you don’t use anymore.  Remodeling your kitchen?  Your old stove may not fit your color scheme but it will fit someone else’s budget nicely.  Looking to upgrade your sofa?  If the old one is still in fair condition, another family will delight in finding it at bargain prices in our thrift store.  What do you have collecting dust in the back room that could bring in much needed cash for food?

Many people say they would rather buy needed items than give money. Great, our pantry can always use food supplements and hygiene supplies for the special needs children, such as: Pediasure, baby food, diapers, or Fleet enemas.  In addition,  when available, we strive to include cooking oil, powdered milk and sugar to our food distribution.  If you want to contribute food items directly, these items would be the most helpful.  We also accept packaged food and canned goods, but unfortunately, even though the expiration date on food does not always mean that the food is no longer good, we can not, in good conscious, pass on out of date food items.

And in addition, we also have some “big ticket” items on our wish list.

A desk top computer for the store.
A working delivery vehicle for food and water (needs to be able to negotiate the dirt “roads” of the Arroyo and carry 500 gallon water tank).
A working air-conditioner (or two?).  The volunteers who run the segundo swelter in the summer months.

If you have one of the items you would like to contribute, please call us to arrange delivery.

And of course, CASH is always welcome.  We are hoping to double our budget in the coming year and provide a more expansive diet in the food distribution and your cash donations will make this possible.

You can now contribute through our Paypal account by clicking through the buttons on the right side of our web site.  You do not need to HAVE a Paypal account to contribute, you will be given an option to use your ATM or credit card.  Sorry, we can not accept checks at this time .

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our administrative meeting yesterday produced the following conclusion:  We need to set our sites higher and incorporate aid for the children with disabilities into our budget.  To do this we are going to strive to double our current monthly budget from $1000 (dollars US) to $2000 and designate at least 25% of all non-specific donations to a special fund, set aside to help meet the emergency and extraordinary needs of the families whose children have disabling impairments or diseases.

The distribution of these funds will be monitored carefully to assure that the money is spent on legitimate expenses like travel to and from doctor’s appointments, meals and housing for parents when children are undergoing surgeries in distant cities, and necessary food supplements, medicines, etc.

There was a time in my youth when I was without work and found it necessary to frequent the local food bank in the small town where I lived in Washington state.  The items dispensed there were simple by our standards but compared to what we have to give out here in San Felipe they were bountiful.  There, we had large blocks of cheese, powdered milk, some type of meat or chicken, rice, pasta, canned goods,  fresh vegetables and fruit in season. With a small child and several homeless teenagers to feed, this program was a major blessing in my life and it is perhaps the memory of those few months that sparks my desire to pass on the blessing.

The dispensa here in San Felipe includes only a bag each of pinto beans, rice and flour.  Sometimes we have sugar or oil but those occasions are rare.

Increasing our budget will also allow us to add a few additional staples to our food distribution on a regular basis, such as sugar, cooking oil and/or powdered milk.

The expansion of our budget will also include a Special Needs fund to allow us to better meet the needs of the families with children with disabilities.

In the past we have focused on providing a place for the parents to conduct physical therapy sessions for their children.  After many conversations and visits to our therapy sessions, the representatives of DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia/Integral Family Development) have announced that they are in the process of setting up a therapy program for disabled children at the local DIF clinic HERE IN SAN FELIPE!  We at VSL are thrilled and anxiously waiting for this new program to begin at the first of the year.

As the new program will be better equipped and lead by people with professional training, we will be discontinuing our volunteer therapy program once the new DIF program is operational.  In it’s place, we hope to set up a children’s pantry to provide food supplements, like Pediasure, baby food, diapers and funds for emergencies like travel expenses to and from hospital and doctor appointments.

But none of this can happen without your generous help.  You can help us reach these goals by sharing this article with your friends and family.  $2000 is not such a large sum when it it is tackled in small pieces.  If we can find 100 people willing to commit to $20 a month, we will have reached our goal.  $20 is equivalent to one lunch out or four lattés in the states.   Here in San Felipe the same $20 will feed several families for a week.  We are so grateful for those of you, our readers, who find it in their hearts to help.

If you would like to be part of this work, you can sign up to give a monthly donation or a one time gift via our Paypal buttons on the right.  You do not need to have a Paypal account to give.  If you click one of the buttons on the right you will see an option (in small print) that allows you to contribute with your ATM or credit card.

Thank you ever so much for your support.  God bless you!

Note:  The meeting was held at the home of Susan & Chuck and attended by Patricia Orosco Res (Director), Irene Cogley, Rosario Torres Combera, Susan Young & Chuck Bryant.  If you are interested in participating in the promotion of VSL and want to be notified of the next meeting please drop me a note at vsl.vwl@gmail.com.

The families of our children with disabilities are looking to earn money to help cover the cost of caring for their children’s needs.

Most often they need to travel to Mexicali for doctor visits and these trips are costly.

They invite all their San Felipe friends to their tamales sale this Saturday August 13 at 8:00 am This sale will be to raise funds for medications and travel for children of this association.

They are located in Huatulco street, next to the tortilla Velasco

You can call and order tamales, call 5771002.